AMD AM2+/AM3 HSF removal

[ComputerWizKid]

I have an AMD Athlon II X4 635 with a dead* motherboard (Asus M4A785-M) and I have to send it in for RMA but the problem is the board will not even power up anymore so the CPU will not get hot enough to soften the OEM Thermal glue (Paste) In the past (Socket 939 days) I had the CPU get stuck to the HSF and when it was removed the pins got bent :thumbsdown: So is there a trick to this as I don't want to damage the board further (So I can still RMA the thing) and also I want to have the CPU come out intact.

* = The board is totally dead and will not post and will kill any ram that is in the DIMM slots (DDR2= Expensive)

Also when I get the board back I plan to sell it and buy a board that uses DDR3

 

[RobertPters77]

I had the exact same problem when swapping out the stock HSF on my phenom. I unscrewed the backplate and loosened the bracket, then blew a hairdryer on the fins, getting it to around 30c. 20 minutes later it came off smooth as silk.

 

[veri745]

I've never had a problem just gently twisting the HSF back and forth until it comes off. It doesn't have to twist very much to loosen it up.

 

[mb103051]

remove fan and use a hairdryer to blow on the heatsink for a few minutes...it gets hot twist side to side and presto....it comes off...ive done it this way for years on amd setups....